Truck



1945- w. E. BURBANK ETAL 2,332,856

TRUCK Filed Jan. 9, 1 943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

INVEN TOR-S W.'. BURBANK D. H.MITCHEL L ,4 T TORNEX w. E. BURBANK ETAL Aug. 14, 1945.

TRUCK 3 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Jan. 9,1943

I l W I I I I H U l l //v MENTOR! W. E. BURBA NK I IW H H I I W. l h

P ll

IWMWIIIIMW |m U ww l 0. H. H! TCHELL A r TORNEV Patented Aug. 14, 1945 TRUCK William E. Burbank, Mitchell, Cranford,

N. Electric Company, In N. Y., a corporation of Westfleid, and Donald H. J., alsignors to Western oorporated, New York, New York Application January 9, 1943, Serial No. 471,848

11 Claims.

This invention relates to trucks and more particularly lift trucks employed inthe transportation of articles.

Articles contained in trays or machinery of various sizes are frequently transported by the aid of lift trucks through the-assistance of skids upon which such articles or machines are originally disposed. The skids include a platform usually of a standard size having supporting legs to locate it above the floor a suitable distance for the movement of the supporting frame of a lift truck therebeneath. In certain instances, however, articles or machines to 'be transported are too large for the commercially known single skid and for this reason double or larger skids are employed. However, the standard lift truck designed for the single skids is not capable of transporting the double or larger skids.

An object of the invention is to provide a truck,

particularly one of the lift type adapted for variation in length for the transportation of articles of various sizes.

With this and other objects in view the invention comprises a truck having a frame formed of sections movable relative to each other, operable mechanism adapted to move the sections to vary the length of the frame for the supporting of articles of various sizes thereon.

@ther objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions when considered in conjunction ing drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the truck illustrating the frame portions extended, portions of these frames being illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a continuation of the structure shown in Fi 1';

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the truck withthe frame sections extended;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevatlonal view of the truck with frame sections in their normal positions;

with the accompany- Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional .view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a. portion of the operating means for the frames, and

Fig. 7 is a. perspective view of one of the intermediate members connecting the sections of the frames for their movement relative to each other.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to Fig. l which illustrates a lift truck, indicated generally at l0, mounted upon wheels H and provided with conventional mechanism, for propelling and guiding the truck, such mechanism, not constituting a part of this invention. A main frame indicated generally at It is supported by the wheels i I and is composed mainly of two sections I5 and Hi. The section II is fixed to the propelling portion on the truck, the members of this section extending forwardly in spaced parallel relationas illustrated in Fig. 3. The parallel members of the section l5 have -dovetail slots l8 formed longitudinally in the outer surfaces thereof as shown in'Figs. 1 and 5. The section It is substantially U-shaped in general contour, the leg portions of which have I dovetail slots is in the inner surfaces thereof.

A pair of connecting members 20, one a right band member as shown in Fig. 'l and the other a left hand member with the dovetail projections on the opposite sides, is employed for the connection of the sections l5 and i6 through their dovetail slots l8 and It. The connecting member 20 illustrated in Fig. 7 has a. central portion 22 of a given width and length with dovetail projections 23 and 24 mounted upon their respective sides and at the positions shown substantially overlapping each other for portions of their lengths adjacent the center of the member 20. The dovetail portions 23 and 24 of the connecting members 20 are receivable in their slots i8 and i8, respectively, to thus positivelyconnect the sections for relative movement to cause variation in the length of the frame. Attention at this time is directed to the central portion 22 of connecting members, this portion having a projection or an increased width for a portion of its length to provide an abutment 26 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A lifting frame indicated generally at 28 is similar in structure to the main frame M, it being composed of two sections 29 and 30 having dovetail slots '3! and 32, respectively, therein, the slots 3| being in the outer surfaces of the section 29 while the slots 32 are disposed in the inner surfaces of the section 30. Right and left hand connecting members 83 identical in structure to the connecting members 2|] with the addition of integral lugs 34, have dovetail members 35 and 36 disposed in their respective slots 3| and 32 (Fig. 5) to connect the sections 29*and 30 for movement relative to each other. The

. frame 28 is provided with a platform for supportwhen extended. A main portion indicated at 38 adjustable bolts 12.

is mounted upon the frame section 25, this portion having a. vertical flange 55 serving as a stop in locating articles upon the truck. An intermediate portion 45 has apertures 4| at the sides' thereof for receiving the lugs 54 of the connecting members 53 and through these lugs become fixed to the connecting members. A final or end portion of the plattform indicated at 42 is mounted upon the section 55 of the lift frame 25.

The operablemeans for varying the size of the frames for moving them from the normal positions of the sections shown in Fig. 4 to the extended positions shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or to any intermediate positions includes sets of chains 45 and 45. The chains 45 each have one of their ends connected to integral lugs 41 of an element 45 which extends horizontally beneath the section I5 of the frame l4 and is secured in recesses 55 of the section by suitable means, such as screws 5| (Fig. 5). The connection between the chains 45 and their lugs 41 consists of bolts 52 constituting means to vary the tensions of the chains and/ or their locations with respect to their sprockets. Extending from the lugs 41, the chains 45 pass around their respective sprockets 55, which are mounted upon a common shaft 54, up and around their respective sprockets I5,'which are mounted on a common shaft 55, then extend longitudinally of the frame to their respective sprockets 51 about which they pass to their respective sprockets 55 and finally have their opposite ends connected through the aid of adjustable bolts 55 to other'lugs 5| of the member 45. The sprockets 51 are mounted upon a common shaft 52 and the sprocket wheels 55 are mounted upon a common shaft 55. The shafts 54, 55, 52 and 53 are suitably journalled in bearings mounted in their respective frame sections. Therefore the links 55 and 55, employed with other mechanism 55 for lifting the frame 25,

have their ends pivotally mounted upon their,

respective shafts.

The chains 45 extend'from lugs-15 of an element 1| substantially identical in structure to the element45, the connecting means between the ends of the chains 45 and the lugs 15 constituting. The chains 45 extend from their bolts 15 about sprockets 15, then longitudinally of the frame 25 where they extend about sprockets 15 and finally have their opposite ends connected at 15 to .lugs 11 o; the-element 1!. The sprockets 13 are fixed to the shaft 55 and are driven thereby, the sprockets 15 being fixed to the shaft 52 to rotate therewith. The element 1| is-positioned to engage abutments 15 the lengths of the frames to effectively lengthen the supporting area of the truck. The motor 55 is then energized, causing rotation of the shaft 54 counterclockwise (Fig. 4) imparting movement to the pairs of chains 45 and, through their driving connections with the shafts 55 and 52 causing simultaneous movements of the chains 45 to cause movement of theirmembers 45 and 1| simultaneously to the right, moving with them their respective sections I5 and 55 relative to their sections l4 and 25. The connecting members 25 and 55 with their dovetail portions in the dovetail slots of the frame sections permit this movement, maintaining a sufficiently rigid structure regardless of the extended length of the frames. This operation may be continued, if desired, to move the frame sections l5 and 55 their complete distances.. It will be noted by viewing Fig. 4

that the abutments 25 and 15 of the members 25 and 55 are spaced from the elements 45 and 1| at the start of this adjustment. However, the abutments are in the path of their respective elements 45 and 1| and will be moved thereby to equalize the connections of the mem-- bers 25 and 55 with respect to their frame sections. Thus at the end of the. adjustment of the frame sections the effective length of the frames will be substantially doubled, as illustrated by comparing Figs. 3 and 4. During this adjustment or elongation of the frames, the portions 45 and M42 of the platform are moved away from each (Fig. 4) of their respective members 55 and has its ends fixed in recesses 55 (Figs. 4 and 5) of the section 55 by suitable means such as screws 5|.

The means to operate the mechanism include ing the chains and sprockets for varying the length of the frames includes a reversible motor 55 mounted upon a suitable support 54' and in-' cluding a speed reducing unit 55, the output shaft 55 of which is operatively connected to the shaft 54 through the aid of bevelled gears 51 and 55. The electrical circuit for controlling the motor is not shown, it being understood that such a circuit may be provided to cause 'energization of the motor when desired.

Considering now the operation of the truck, particularly the variation in the size of the frames, let it be assumed that the frames are in the normal or closed positions shown in Fig. 4 and that the operator is desirous of extending other and from the portion 55 so that there will be platform portions for the extended frames.

The portion 42 is moved with the frame section 55. The portion 45 remains adjacent the portion 55 of the platform until the members 55 are moved by the element 1|, then it assumes a position substantially midway between 55 and 42.

The shortening of the frames is brought about in substantially the reverse order, the motor 55 being of the reversible type may cause rotation of the shaft 54 in a clockwise direction to cause movement of the members 45 and 11 simultaneously in directions toward the motor to pull their respective sections l5 and 55. to which they are secured, into their'closed positions. During a portion of this movement the connecting members 25 and 55 will remain at rest, maintaining their connections between the frame sections and will finally be moved through the ends of the slots l5 and 52 engaging their respective portions 24 and 55 or in one instance through the abutment of the platform portion 42 with the portion 45 causing movement of thelatter into engagement with the portion 55 during which time the members 25 and 55 are returned to their normal positions.

Althoughspecific improvements of the invention have been shown and described it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that Y various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A truck for transporting articles comprising a main frame having relativelymovable sections, a lift frame having relatively movable sections,

shafts rotatably supported by the frames, liftinl means pivotally mounted upon the shafts to cause movement of the lifting frame toward and away from the main frame, endless members operative- 1y connected to the shafts and driven by one of them. and means respectively movable by the the portions shafts rotatably supported endless members to cause relative movement the sections of their respective frames.

2. A truck for transporting articles comprising a main frame having relatively movable sections, a lift frame having relatively movable sections, by the frames, lifting means pivotally mounted upon the shafts to cause movement of th lifting frame toward and away from the main frame, endless members operatively connected to the shafts and driven by one of them, and means respectively movable by the endless members to cause relative movement of the sections of their respective frames and means to rotate the driven shaft to cause movement of the endless members.

3. A truck for transporting articles comprising a main frame having relatively movable sections, a lift frame having relatively movable sections, shafts rotatably supported by the frames, lifting means pivotally mounted upon the shafts to cause movement of the lifting frame toward and away from the main frame, endless members opera.- tively connected to the shafts and driven by one of them, and means respectively movable by the endless members to cause relative movement of the sections of their respective frames and means to rotate the driven shaft in either direction to cause movement of the endless members in either direction.

4. A truck for transporting articles comprising a main frame having relatively movable sections, a lift frame having relatively movable sections, means, connecting the frames, actuable to cause movement of the lift frame relative to the main frame, and means operatively connected and operable in synchronism to simultaneously cause relative movement of the sections of the frames.

5. A truck for transporting articles comprising a main frame having relatively movable sections, a lift frame having relatively movable sections, means, connecting the frames, actuable to cause movement of th lift frame relative to the main frame, and means connected to both frames and operable to cause relative movement of the sections of the frames when th lifting frame is in a position away from the main frame.

6. A truck for transporting articles comprising a main frame having relatively movable sections, a lift frame having relatively movable sections, means, connecting the frames, actuable to cause movement of the lift frame relative to the main frame, and means connected to both frames and operable to cause relative movement of the sections of the frames when the lifting frame is in any of its positions relative to the main frame.

7. A truck for transporting articles comprising a main frame having relatively movable sections, a lift frame having relatively movable sections, means, connecting the frames, actuable to cause movement of the lift frame relative to the main frame, and means connected to both frames and operable to cause relative movement of the sections of the frames during movements of the lifting frame relative to the main frame,

8. A truck for transporting articles comprising a main frame having relatively movable sections, 8. lift frame having relatively movable sections, means, connectin the frames, actuabloto cause movement of the lift frame relative to the main frame, means connected to both frames and operable to cause relative movement of the sections of the frames when the lifting frame is in any of its positions relativ to the main frame, and power means to operate the said operable means.

9.' A truck for transporting articles comprising a main frame having relatively movable sections,

a lift frame having relatively movable sections,

means, connecting the frames, actuable to cause movement of the lift frame relative to the main frame, separat connecting members between the sections of the frames to maintain connections therebetween during their relative movements,

1 and means operatively connected to both frames to cause relative movement of the sections of the frames simultaneously.

10. A truck for transporting articles comprising a main frame having relativelymovable sec- .tions, a lift fram having relatively movable sections, means, connecting the frames, actuable to cause movement of the lift frame relative to the main frame, endless moving members for the frames, and means movable with the members to cause relative movement of the sections of the frames.

11. A truck for transporting articles comprising a main frame having relatively movable sections, a lift frame having relatively movable sections, means, connecting the frames, actuable to cause movement of the lift frame relative to the main frame, operable endless members for the frames, the members to cause relative movement of the sections of the frame, tion of the members.

WILLIAM 2.3mm. nomm H. Mrrcnnrn means movable through the operation of I and means to cause opera- 

